Maternal expandable protector

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a maternal protector. The maternal protector has at least a flexible protection device and a pocket in a pocket positioning material. The pocket receives a portion of the flexible protection device. The pocket positioning material positions the pocket over a mother to allow the protection device to be positioned over at least a portion of the mother&#39;s uterus.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/532,005, filed on Dec. 22, 2003.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a device that has a chance to decrease injuries to a fetus and pregnant female.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are numerous devices to assist a pregnant mother during a pregnancy. One of those devices is a back support 10. An example of a back support device 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1, and can be purchased from Scott Specialties, Inc. of Belleville, Kans. You can view the product at allegromedical.com/scott-specialties.htm/. The back support device 10 has a stretchable back unit 12 and an interconnecting comfortable front unit 14.

The front unit 14 is made of a soft and loop-like material 16 and an adjustable strap 17. The soft and loop-like material is designed to overlay, and not penetrate into, the uterus area of the mother. The adjustable strap 17 is interconnected to material 16 and at the distal end of the strap 17 is a hook-like connector. Once the material 16 is properly positioned about the uterus, the strap 17 is wrapped around the back of the mother and interconnected to the loop-like material 16 until the front unit 14 is comfortably positioned on the mother.

The stretchable back unit 12 works in conjunction with the front unit 14. The back unit 12 does not have to be used in association with the front unit 14 but if back issues exist, it could be used by the mother. The back unit 12, as used in the prior art, has the stretchable material 20 and two hook-like extensions 22 a,b at the terminal ends of the stretchable material 20. The extensions 22 a,b interconnect with the loop-like material 16 until the back unit 12 is properly positioned on the mother.

The support device 10 as presently sold is not indicated as a protective garment. The applicant has prepared some research on the predisposing conditions that place pregnant mother's at risk for injury.

There is research that indicates that pregnant mothers are subject to many more physical hazards and trauma than their non-precounterparts. Those hazards and trauma are caused for various reasons. Some of those reasons include and are not limited to motor vehicle accidents, falls/assaults, domestic violence, occupational safety, and exercise/athletics/sports.

Those hazards and trauma are a result of the mother's anatomic changes and potential risks in her environment. As the mother's pregnancy progresses, her equilibrium and/or balance may change due to an altered center of gravity due to the position of the fetus, enlarging uterus and/or the temporary weight gain. These changes could make it difficult for the mother to safely perform her job, exercise, and walk/stand. Exercise is currently recommended during pregnancy, however these pregnant women are facing a risk of injury due to the altered center of gravity and the documented altered balance.

Research has proven motor vehicle accidents to be the leading cause of death and disability among pregnant females and the unborn children. However, to date there is not a durable protective device to guard the pregnant woman and her unborn child

As for environmental changes, scientific data has indicated that in domestic violence some partners of the pregnant mother become more abusive during the pregnancy. Such abusive behavior is unacceptable domestic abuse, but medical practitioners could advise a device of this sort for protection, as evidence proves that women typically remain in the domestic setting.

What to do to decrease the effect on the fetus during such hazards and trauma? The present invention solves this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a maternal protector. The maternal protector has at least a flexible protection device and a pocket in a pocket positioning material. The pocket receives a portion of the flexible protection device. The pocket positioning material positions the pocket over a mother to allow the protection device to be positioned over at least a portion of the mother's uterus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates the prior art in an exploded format.

FIGS. 2 a,b illustrate one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 a illustrates a top view of the embodiment, while FIG. 2 b illustrates a side view of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In one embodiment of the present invention, the back support 10 a is modified to obtain the desired protection for a pregnant mother.

In a first embodiment of the present invention, the front unit 14 a is modified by adding a pocket 30. The pocket 30 is positioned on the surface 32 of the front unit 14 a that faces the mother's skin. The pocket 30 is attached to surface 32 by any conventional fastening device to form a conventional pocket. These conventional fastening devices include and are not limited to stitching, adhesives, rivets, fasteners such as buttons and apertures, snap-ons, hook and loop designs; and combinations thereof.

The pocket 30 receives a flexible protector device 34. The protector device 34 should be flexible to adapt and conform to the various shapes of a mother's bulging uterus. Examples of the flexible device 34 include and are not limited to polymeric materials, a gelastic material, and/or metallic materials. In addition, the flexible protective devices can also contain fluids like water which could provide further protective qualities. Since the material list is endless, the limitations to the materials used for the device 34 are limited only in the weight of the material and the flexibility of the material to at least attempt to conform to the shape of the mother.

There can various sizes of the protective devices 34. There are small sizes, medium sizes, large sizes, and anything in between. The sizes would also accommodate pregnant women with a multiple gestation. Which size is used is dependent on the mother and her comfort level. Moreover, the mother can interchange the various sizes of the protective devices during the term of the pregnancy.

For large sizes, applicant recommends a modified stretchable back unit 12 a be used. The modified stretchable back unit 12 a is modified by adding additional conventional fastening devices 22 c,d. These additional conventional fastening devices are designed to interconnect with a corresponding fastening device positioned on the large size of the protective device. The large size of the protective device, it has been determined, needs the additional fastening devices to secure the protective device to the mother.

In another embodiment, the pocket 30 can be positioned within the mother's undergarments positioned around her uterus. In another embodiment, the pocket 30 can be positioned within the mother's clothing—shirts, dresses, skirts, and/or pants. The only requirement of the preferred embodiment and these alternative embodiments is that the pocket positioning material ensures that the pocket that receives at least a portion of the protection device is positioned so the protection device is positioned over at least a portion of the mother's uterus.

By no means does this maternal protection device prevent injuries to the mother and the fetus. Instead, this device 10 is designed to merely decrease the chance of any such injuries to the mother and the fetus. It is equivalent to hockey equipment; it can decrease the chances of a user obtaining some injuries but not all injuries.

Many modifications and variations of our invention will be evident to those skilled in the art. It is understood that such variations may deviate from specific teachings of this description without departing from the essence of the invention, which is expressed in the following claims. 

1. A maternal protector comprising: a flexible protection device; a pocket in a pocket positioning material, the pocket receives a portion of the flexible protection device; the pocket positioning material positions the pocket over a mother to allow the protection device to be positioned over at least a portion of the mother's uterus.
 2. The maternal protector of claim 1 wherein the pocket is secured to the pocket positioning material by fastening devices.
 3. The maternal protector of claim 2 wherein the fastening devices are selected from the group consisting of stitching, adhesives, rivets, fasteners such as buttons and apertures, snap-ons, hook and loop designs; and combinations thereof.
 4. The maternal protector of claim 1 wherein the pocket positioning material is a front unit of a back support device.
 5. The maternal protector of claim 1 wherein the pocket positioning material is any clothing material worn by a mother ensures that the pocket that receives at least a portion of the flexible protection device is positioned so the flexible protection device is positioned over at least a portion of the mother's uterus.
 6. The maternal protector of claim 4 wherein the front unit is used in conjunction with a stretchable back unit.
 7. The maternal protector of claim 6 wherein the stretchable back unit has at least two fastening devices to interconnect with the flexible protection device.
 8. The maternal protector of claim 1 wherein the flexible protector device comprises a polymeric material.
 9. The maternal protector of claim 1 wherein the flexible protector device comprises metal.
 10. The maternal protector of claim 1 wherein the flexible protector device comprises metal and polymeric material.
 11. The maternal protector of claim 1 wherein the flexible protector device comprises a gelastic material.
 12. The maternal protector of claim 1 wherein the flexible protector device is selected from the group consisting of metal, polymeric material, gelastic material, fluid, or combinations thereof. 